The grass is set, the strawberries and cream are ready to go and the greatest tennis tournament in the world is about to start. Wimbledon 2026 will be held from Monday 29 June to Sunday 12 July at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London. Here’s everything you need to know before the first serve.
Dates & Schedule
The 139th edition of The Championships will be held over two weeks. First-round singles play begins June 29-30, with quarterfinals scheduled for July 7-8. The women’s singles final on July 11, and the men’s singles final on July 12. Outside court matches start at 11am local time, while Centre Court and No. 1 Court action begins at 1pm
The Championships 2026. Where Beauty Meets the Battle.
There is Only One Wimbledon 🦋 pic.twitter.com/SLsCsv7xgb
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 8, 2026
Prize Money
This year’s tournament carries a total prize pot of £64.2 million — a 20 percent increase from 2025 and the largest year-on-year rise in Wimbledon history. The singles champion walks away with £3.6 million, while a first-round exit still earns £80,000, per the ATP Tour.
Men’s Draw — Sinner Leads, Djokovic Lurks
Defending champion Jannik Sinner is the top seed and the clear favourite on the men’s side. The Italian opens against Miomir Kecmanovic and holds a 4-0 head-to-head record over him. The big story heading in, however, is the absence of Carlos Alcaraz. The two-time former champion has been sidelined since April with a wrist injury, leaving the draw wide open behind Sinner.
Novak Djokovic, seeded seventh, is the subplot worth watching. The seven-time Wimbledon champion is chasing a record breaking 25th Grand Slam title. He has also been drawn in the same half as Sinner, setting up a potential semifinal clash on Centre Court.
First task for defending champion Jannik Sinner 🏆 pic.twitter.com/POWkkhlVje
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 26, 2026
Women’s Draw — Swiatek Defends, Serena Back
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka tops the women’s seedings, with Wimbledon the only major title she doesn’t have. The defending champion, Iga Swiatek, who won last year’s final 6-0, 6-0 in a dominant 57 minutes, begins her title defense in the third quarter of the draw.
But the headlines belong to Serena Williams. The 44-year-old 23-time Grand Slam champion has been handed a singles wildcard for her first major appearance since the 2022 US Open. She opens against Maya Joint and could face Swiatek as early as round three — which is incredible. Serena and Venus Williams have been awarded a wildcard for the women’s doubles, where they have won six Wimbledon titles between them.
A Monumental First — Video Reviews Come to SW19
Wimbledon will have video reviews for the first time in the tournament’s history. Players can challenge chair-umpire calls on Centre Court, No. 1 Court and four other show courts. It’s a big change for a tournament that for a long time shunned the kind of officiating technology common elsewhere in the sport.
Hopefuls from Britain
Jack Draper leads the home charge, with new coach Andy Murray and back from injury with genuine grass-court pedigree. Also in the hat are Cameron Norrie and Oliver Tarvet. First round action begins June 29
